The Personal Touch
More than 211,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. Since you are the one most familiar with the contours of your body, it's possible you'll notice a change before your physician will. Examine your breasts on a regular basis, at a time when they're least tender. For women not past menopause, this is generally three to five days after menstruation.

Get Naked
If your doctor does not see you naked at least once a year, she is not doing her job. Because of Ms. Smith, I make this phrase my mantra. The average doctor visit lasts less than 20 minutes, but don't let that fact shortchange your health. If your doctor doesn't ask you to put on a gown, take the initiative and request one.

Overcoming the Obstacles
Despite all of the information about breast cancer and prevention swirling around us, only 27 percent of women get mammograms according to the recommended guidelines for their age group. Also disheartening was a report this year from the National Cancer Institute that showed a decline in the number of women age 40 and over who received mammograms from 2000 to 2005. Although mammograms are not foolproof, they detect lumps one to three years before they are identified by a manual exam.

One of the most common reasons women avoid this appointment is because they find the experience unpleasant. If this has been the case for you, try having the exam two weeks after your period begins. And speak up. Tell the technician that you felt pain during your last exam. That alerts her to take extra care. Ask her if it's possible to control compression yourself. Request a special cushion, which some centers now provide, that sits between the breast and the machine. This doesn't interfere with the quality of the exam and may diminish pain.